Operation of vapor-converters.



P. H. THOMAS.

OPERATION OF VAPOR CONVERTERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1905.

191 M99580 7 Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY H. THOMAS, 0F MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, 'lO COOPER HEWITT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

OPERATION OF VAPOR-CONVERTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sle t. 15, rare.

Application filed September 1, 1905. Serial No. 276,672.

rent to direct current translating devices from an alternating current source through the medium of one or more vapor converters.

The object of the present invention is to providecertain improvements in the system described in said applications, such improvements relating to features which will be described hereinafter and more particularly pointed out. in the claims attached hereto.

The present invention contemplates, among other things, the application of the system ofdistribution to cases where extremely high potentials are used and where a single vapor converter of the design and construction most naturally applicable would be incapable of economically supporting the full potential strain. Under these conditions I introduce one or more additional converters so arranged that the voltage delivered on the direct current side of the converter shall-be additive, allowing the use of a higher resultant voltage upon the operating and receiving circuits. My invention 'further contemplates the application of the principles IGCltBClflbOVe to polyphase supply circuits; while at the same time it contemplates the simplification of the means for impressing constant alterna-ting current. upon the vapor devices. Such means may consist of suitable ballast devices, or of special apparatus, preferably automatic, for connecting the vapor device or devices to points of difierent potential in the supply circuit. The invention inay'also be applied to circuits in whi h the regulator 1s placed di rectly in the leads to the positive electrodes.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which showsan application of my invention for the combining of three transformer secondaries in series for supplying a direct current circuit and which shows certain suitable starting connections therefor. I

Referring to the figure of the drawing, 1 is the primary of a transformer, the terminals of which are connected to a source of alternating current through a reactance regulator of the type disclosed in certain patents to Malcolm H. Baker; for example,- United States Patents 684,165, 684,340 and 684,342,.issued on the 8th day of, October, 1901. It is well understood that these regulators relate to means and methods whereby a reactance coil acts in opposition to a counter weight which is so correlated to the magnetic pull of the coil that the choking eitect of the coil will vary automatically to compensate for changes of resistance in the receiving circuit. I have thought it sufiicient to indicate the Baker regulatorby the character 2, indicating more particularly the coil of the said regulator. It will'be understood,

however, that the reference numeral includes also the counter weight which is opposed to the pull of the coil for the purpose indicated. For greater clearness I designate the counter weight and the intervening apparatus by the numeral 100.

The primary 1 is in operative relation to three secondary windings, 3, 4, and 5, connected, respectively, at their terminals to-the,

positive electrodes, 9, of vapor converters, 6, 7 and 8. Intermediate points of the secondary are connected to the negative electrodes, 10, 10, 10, of the said converters through starting devices, 11, consisting in the form shown of reactances 111, 111, 111, and resistances, 112, 112, 112. The connection also passes through inductances, 12, 12, 12, with interposed switches 13, 13, 13, for opening the circuits to the negative electrodes 10,

10, 10. I Auxiliary resistances, 14, 14, 14, are connected between one or more of the positive electrodes 9 of each converter and supplementary electrodes, 15, 15, 15. The load circuit 16 including constant current consumption devices such as are lamps 17 17, 17 are connected in series'with an impedance,

18, capable of being short-circuited by. a

switch, 19. By means of cross-connections,

closed, so as to bring into contact the mercury or other conducting fluid of the electrodes l0 and 1.5 and then tilting the converters backagain so as to restore them to their original positions, thereby breaking the connection between the said electrodes and causing current to. flow between them. This operation of vapor devices is already well understood as is also the function of resistances, 14, 14, 14:, which are connected as described above between one or more of the positive electrodes, 9, 9, and the supplementary electrode 15 of each converter. When all the converters have been started in the manner described -or in any othersuitable way, potential isestablished'between the terminals of the work circuit 16, and current flows through this circuit suflicient to energize the various translating devices therein. Theswitches 13, 13, 13, may then be opened and the apparatus is thereupon placed in condition for continuous operation.

I prefer to provide common means for tilting the converters, such means consisting lot a bar or lever, 21, pivoted at any suitable point and handle, 22.

The switches 13, 13,. 13, are automatically operated by the ,coil 18 upon the establishment of normal current in this coil, through provided with a suitable the member 141, the said member being actuated by the armature 1 10, placed in operative relation to the coil 18. The attraction of the coil 18 upon the armature 140, resulting from the establishment of current in the said coil raises the armature 14-0, opening the switches 13. and thus discontinuing the starting circuits.

By virtue of the series'arrangement of converters shown, the total potential applied to the converters and received by the consumption circuit may be considerably greater than would be practicable with a single converter, and much higher potentials can be employed in the system than would otherwise be permissible.

It is evident that the system shown may be utilized on constant potential circuits as well as constant current circuits.

Certain aspects of the present invention are claimed in a number of divisional applications hereof, namely, applications bearing the Serial Nos. 447,409, filed August 7, 1908; 447,410, filed August 7, 1908; 398,708, filed October 23, 1907.

I claim as my invention:

, 1. The combination of a plurality of vapor converters having suitable electrodes,

supply transformerwindings, connections between said converters and said transformer windings and series connections between .said converters, with'starting circuits for the several converters, together with automatic means for discontinuing said starting circuits.

-. 2. The combination of a plurality of se- I rially connected vapor converters, an alternating current supply-circuit and a work circuit, with an inductive starting shunt controlled by' resistance connected across the load circuit.

3. In a system of electrical operation the combination of a plurality ofvapor convertersincluding exhausted containers and adapted to be started by mechanical movement thereof, and motion-permitting mountings for salcl contalners, with means for producing simultaneous movement of the said containers together with series con converters, individual means for starting the vapor converters constituting as a whole a shunt across the work'circuit and'means for connecting in series electromotive forces derived fromthe said vapor converters for supplying said translating devices.

5. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination with a plurality of mercury vapor rectifiers, each including an exhausted container and a vaporizable cathode and suitable alternating sources therefor, of a work circuit, series connections between the rectifiers., each connection including an inductance, and connections. between the rectifiers and the work circuit, together with separate starting shunts around the several rectifiers.

6.. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination with a plurality of mercury vapor rectifiers, each including an exhausted container and a vaporizable cathode, .and

suitable alternating sources therefor, of a work circuit, series connections between the rectifiers, each connection including an inseparate, starting shunts around the several rectifiers, together with, means for simultaneously openlng the several starting shunts. 1

7. In a system. of electrical distribution, v

the combination with a work circuit, a plurality of mercury vapor converters, each including an exhausted container, a vaporizable liquid cathode', ancl a starting anode cooperating therewith andconnected with the lead of a main i'anode also in the container, and suitable alternating supply tween the cathodes and the starting anodes mmsae v 3 sources and ccrmections therewith, of means Signed at New York, in the county of for simultaneouslyTtilting the several con- New York and State of New York, this 28th 10 tainers thereby closingei metallic circuit be-- day Of August A. D. 1905.

simultaneously in the various converters, PERCY THOMAS" whereby a .,continuous starting circuit in- W1tnesses: cludmg the Work circuit and a portion of the Tues. H. BROWN, several alternating source's is formed. GEORGE H. STOCKBRIDGE. 

